Make every moment count.
That is the mantra that has guided the Comboye family since three-year-old Liam, the oldest of two sons, received a diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
An aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer, it attacks the middle of the brain stem and has a low rate of survival. B次元官网网址淭hey are just enjoying every single moment that they have,B次元官网网址� said Lindsay Walper, LiamB次元官网网址檚 aunt.
She spoke those words in SaanichtonB次元官网网址檚 Centennial Park, mere steps away from a bouncy castle, where children, many not much older than Liam, are jumping up and down, filling the air-filled contraption with shrieks of joy.
They, along with their parents, have come to show their support for Liam and the B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital by participating in another fundraiser for the family that featured all the trappings of a fun afternoon in the park.
A face-painting tent turned toddlers into superheroes, at least for a few hours, on this sunny September afternoon.
Agustin Torres, the Saanich-based realtor who helped organize the event, grilled hot dogs while his helper handed out soda cans and small bags of chips to the 100 or so who came from across the Greater Victoria area.
Parents sat with their children in a nearby patch of grass or made them chase soccer balls on the large field just down the slope from where Games 2U had set up the bouncy castle and an obstacle course. Overall, the event raised $1,773, split equally between B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital and LiamB次元官网网址檚 family.
But Liam, his mother Cari, father Mike and nine-month-old brother Brody could not come themselves, as LiamB次元官网网址檚 tumour has doubled in size since July despite chemotherapy.
The knowledge of LiamB次元官网网址檚 likely future, or rather the knowledge of the possibilities potentially denied, was present throughout. Such thoughts debilitate, raise unanswerable questions and create their own imperatives all at once.
B次元官网网址淗ow can any parent be doing when you are told that your child is dying?B次元官网网址� said Walper, when asked about her sister.
B次元官网网址淪he is not doing very good, to be honest. She is struggling. Reality is very hard. You donB次元官网网址檛 want to think ahead. You are living in the moment. ThatB次元官网网址檚 all you have. You canB次元官网网址檛 think about the future, because the future doesnB次元官网网址檛 have him in it at all.B次元官网网址�
Tashia Brewer, CariB次元官网网址檚 best friend, is also grappling with this reality. She has known LiamB次元官网网址檚 mother since they were about 11 years old.
B次元官网网址淲e grew up together, we had our babies together, we got married together,B次元官网网址� said Brewer. B次元官网网址淲e have been through everything together, I mean everything.B次元官网网址�
BrewerB次元官网网址檚 daughter, Lily, is four months older than Liam and they grew up with each other. B次元官网网址淭hey have been together like me and Cari the whole timeB次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淟ily and Liam.B次元官网网址�
Brewer said news of LiamB次元官网网址檚 cancer shocked and angered her. B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 understand whatB次元官网网址檚 going on,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t has basically stolen his life away. He is not progressing, he is not learning, he cannot do public things, he cannot go out and play normally like he used to. It has basically taken everything.B次元官网网址�
Brewer said her daughter Lily constantly asks about Liam. B次元官网网址淓verything that she does, she asks if he is coming. Everything that she does with friends, every park, every place, she asks if Liam is coming. When I tell her that Liam is too sick, she tells me she is sick too. That is where her mentality is.B次元官网网址�
BrewerB次元官网网址檚 62-year-old mother recently died of cancer and she is not yet prepared to tell Lily the full extent of what lies ahead. This recent, personal history with cancer has inevitably coloured BrewerB次元官网网址檚 response.
B次元官网网址淢y mom died of lung and brain cancer less than a year ago, and there is so much research,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here is no hope in DIPG. As I said to Cari, I would literally lose my mom 10 times over for him to be OK. She had choices. Liam has none.B次元官网网址�
